Cade
Chavez’s change of venue was expected but damn irritating all the same. It would be great if for once things went according to plans, but that was most definitely wishful thinking. I’d learned a long time ago that the old platitude, “Nothing in life is certain except change,” was about the truest thing ever said.
“Is the drone ready?”
Oscar grinned, his eyes slightly psychotic as he leaned forward.
“Absolutely. I can’t wait to show these pendejos the little surprise I have waiting on them should they step out of line.”
“Just remember it’s a last resort. We don’t want to tip our hand.”
“Yeah, yeah. I never get to have any fun.”
“We let you blow up the El Sangre guards.”
Oscar’s eyes widened as his psych-ward smile split his face. “That’s true. Man, that was awesome!”
I laughed, shaking my head at Oscar’s antics. It wasn’t that he enjoyed killing people—none of us liked that part of the job that was sometimes a necessary evil. The man was simply a genius when it came to explosives, and he loved to show off his skills.
The problem was, if Oscar was flexing, it usually meant trouble for the rest of the team.
The ride to the abandoned train yard was longer than our trip to the warehouse would have been. Fortunately, there wasn’t much traffic in Atlanta at eleven o’clock on a Wednesday night. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t give us much time to scope out the area.
From the satellite images Ryder had pulled up for us before we left, the place was expansive. The historic building had once been beautiful, with Palladian-style windows and weathered masonry with an almost elegant barn-style roofline. Gang tags were sprayed over the bottom half of the building, but it gave it an edgy vibe that worked somehow.
The current pictures we’d found of the inside showed walls covered with the same graffiti as the outside and floors littered with debris and refuse. The police patrolled the area periodically, so the homeless population had been unable to set up camp inside.
“Kennedy’s team is on their way. He’s standing by in case we need him, and Butler is leading the charge.” Levi sat across from me on the floor of the van, while Cruz drove, and Oscar sat up front.
“Let’s hope our mole doesn’t have time to notify Chavez.”
The vans stopped around the bend from the train yard, about a half mile from the main building. Almost like a town square, a large lot sat in front of the main structure, with smaller structures panning out along the center driveway. Levi and I would drop Oscar and Cruz outside the gates and then take the van in alone.
Oscar and Cruz got out of the van and suited up for battle. Oscar strapped the drone with the explosives to a small pack on his back.
“Stay out of sight, unless we need you. Cruz, see if you can find a place to scope us. If things go to hell, don’t be afraid to make the shot.”
“Got it.”
“Oscar, you know what to do. But don’t risk getting Chavez. We need him alive.” Oscar gave his psycho smile and nodded, eager to get to use his new toy. I just hoped it didn’t come to that. If Oscar was playing, that meant we were fighting for our lives. For once in my life, I had a lot to live for. I wasn’t about to miss out before it even started.
I jogged over to Ryder’s van. Piper lowered the window and leaned out. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah—just checking on you guys. I’d drive back about half a mile and stop under that underpass. It will give you some cover. If things go bad, get out of here and contact Washington. He’ll know what to do.”
Piper nodded, but the defiance in her eyes told an entirely different story.
“Piper—”
“Anything else?” She smiled sweetly, but I wasn’t fooled. Ryder chuckled from the driver’s seat.
“No.” I leaned in and gave her a hard kiss on the mouth, then jogged back to the van to meet Levi.
“All good?” He waited for me to get in and put the van in drive.
“Yep.”
Levi’s low laugh said it all. He didn’t believe me for a second. But how much trouble could Piper get into from a mile away secured in a van? I was being ridiculous worrying.
We pulled up to the gate of the train yard and waited. I wasn’t keen on getting out of the van until we knew what we were up against. Before I could say anything to Levi, two men opened the gate and passed us through, then locked the gate behind them.
Inconvenient, sure. But Cruz and Oscar wouldn’t let something as small as a locked gate and fencing keep them from finding a way in if they needed to assist. I was hopeful they’d find a place to set up shop just outside the train yard.
Stopping the van in front of the building, we adjusted our weapons before getting out. We’d opted for semiautomatic handguns rather than rifles since they were less cumbersome and less conspicuous. Everyone there would be armed, no doubt, but there was something to be said about subtlety.
Two black SUVs were parked in front of the entrance to the main building, no doubt belonging to Chavez or Rubio. I’d expected more cars, though.
Four men exited out of each of the SUVs including Rubio, but no Chavez or any of his men.
“Think Chavez is here?” Levi’s voice was low even though no one could hear us in the van.
“We’re about to find out.”
The front garage-style doors stood open, and we stepped inside the main structure. The height of the ceiling was impressive, skylights lining the roofline and steel beams, following the bones of the building. It was obvious it had been beautiful in its day. Rumor had it Hollywood had bought the place out and was planning to do some restoration in the near future. A couple of movies had been filmed there, and there were sure to be more in the future. The place was magnificent.
And a little bit creepy.
The graffiti, the puddles of water on the floor mixed with debris from the outside that had blown in, while moonlight filtered through the skylights creating shadowy patterns on the floor—it was straight out of a horror film. It didn’t do a whole lot for the itchy feeling along my scalp. Something wasn’t right, but it was too late to turn back.
Two SUVs sat in the middle of the room, while four men surrounded a single figure. Chavez.
“He’s here.” Levi’s voice was barely over a whisper.
“I’ll be damned.”
“This doesn’t change the plan.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“And I can’t let Kennedy know. I just hope his men stay out of sight until this thing is done.”
Levi flexed his fingers as if itching to reach for his gun. “Ready?”
“When have I not been ready?” I shot him a quick grin, and Levi’s laugh rumbled low in his chest.
When we were ten feet more or less from Chavez and his men, we stopped, waiting for Rubio to meet us. He had three guys with him, and I was feeling sorely outnumbered.
“What happened to bringing just one other person? This doesn’t give me the warm fuzzies.”
Juan Carlos stepped forward, his arms crossed over his chest. “What do you have to be worried about, amigo? If everything is as you say it is, this should be over soon, and we can all go happily our own ways.”
Unfortunately, Juan Carlos’s words did little to assuage my unease. “Angel Rubio, may I introduce Juan Carlos Alvaro. He’ll be taking it from here.” I took a step back so Angel could move front and center as he shook hands with Juan Carlos.
“It’s a pleasure, sir. You have the merchandise?”
“Of course. It is right here.” Juan Carlos motioned behind us where several large wooden crates were stacked against one of the support beams.
“May I?” Angel nodded towards the crates.
“Of course, amigo. Be my guest.”
I focused my attention on Chavez after Angel moved to inspect the merchandise. He was looking at me with a slight grin pulling at one side of his mouth. He was known for his good looks, and he knew it. Dark hair cropped close to his scalp, a ripped physique, and dark-brown eyes that danced with mischief—and right behind that mischief was a soullessness that told the story of a stone-cold killer. A man who would order the gang-rape of women, even his own wife, and sell them to the highest bidder, who would torture anyone who crossed him, and who would kill in the most violent ways known to man. He might be attractive on the outside, but what was inside was vile and repulsive.
Chavez took a step forward, and his men started to follow. He held up one hand, and they stopped immediately. He continued towards me until he stood within arm’s reach.
“Mr. Montgomery, I hear you requested an opportunity to make my acquaintance.” He extended his hand for me to shake. I took his hand in mine and marveled that it was warm flesh and not cold granite.
“Nice to finally meet you.”
“Yes, well, I often wonder at men who want to meet me in person. Do they have a death wish, or are they just morbidly curious?”
Was that a threat I heard in his voice? I schooled my features, refusing to show the man any fear or deference, at least none when it came to bargaining for my life.
“Neither, actually. I’m a businessman, and, as you see, a quite lucrative one.” I motioned to Angel who was shaking hands with Juan Carlos and nodding. It seemed all was to his liking.
“Yes, it appears that way. And yet, something tells me there is more to your story.”
If he only knew how much more… But I only smiled and nodded. “I’m an avid fighter. Undefeated in my weight class in the underground fights, at least.”
“I’ve heard that, too. Tell me, how does a disgraced DEA agent get into being a broker for drug lords and owning an MMA gym? It seems quite a jump from your previous occupation.”
“Not really. At one time I fought the inevitable—drugs permeating our city. I’ve since realized it’s an inevitable reality. Might as well get a piece of the action. It’s not like Uncle Sam has done anything for me.”
Chavez grinned widely, showing pearly-white, straight teeth. The smile might have been friendly had it met his eyes, but instead of joyful delight, I found the gaze of a predator, toying with his food.
The feeling that something was off hit me square in the face. Chavez knew something—but what was it? I cocked my head to the side as I tried to figure it out. Taking a step backwards, movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I whirled to my right.
The pop-pop-pop of gunfire exploded as one of Chavez’s men dropped to the ground, blood pooling around his head.
“Get down!” I shouted as I pulled my weapon from its holster and dropped to the floor on top of Chavez. The thought of covering this man went against everything I stood for, but we needed Chavez alive if we were going to stop his reign.
“What the hell is going on?” Chavez’s voice was loud near my ear.
“I have no idea.” But I did. The DEA had shown up half an hour earlier than they were supposed to, which meant someone had reason to want this buy to go badly. And I had a feeling it was the DEA mole at work. But who was he working for? Chavez? Or Rubio?
“Slater! Where’s Rubio?”
“On the ground behind the stash.”
“Get him out of here!”
Slater jumped up from his position and crouched low, making his way to Rubio and his men. Chavez’s men had retreated behind the two SUVs parked inside the building, leaving Chavez and me as the only two exposed. The initial firing had stopped, but I knew the DEA was waiting for us to make a move.
“Listen closely. They’re waiting on us to make a move. I’m going to draw their fire, and you get to the SUV and take off. Understand?”
Chavez’s face held multiple emotions: anger; resignation; revenge—but not fear. He nodded, glancing behind him at the distance to the SUVs. “The partnership is off. Someone from your organization tipped off the authorities. This was a setup.”
“If it was a setup, then why the hell am I helping you out of here?”
“That’s the only thing that has me stumped.”
“Maybe it was someone from your organization.”
“Anyone who double-crosses me knows what awaits them.”
It was a warning to me.
“Go!”
Chavez jumped up, and I ran alongside him, firing into the direction that the agents had come in. Bullets pinged on the ground next to us, and I heard a voice yell above the melee, “Hold your fire! I said hold your fire!”
The gunfire stopped as Chavez reached the SUV and dove into the back seat. Chavez shot me a look, one of triumph tinged with the promise of revenge.
“Cade!” a feminine voice shouted from the building’s door. I froze, recognizing her voice. Piper.
Fear like I’ve never experienced before shot through me as I saw Chavez lift his gaze and settle on Piper’s trim figure dressed all in black. A smile broke across his face, one that spoke of the evil plans he was contemplating for Piper. Then he looked back to me.
“Maybe it was her. Seems like bad things started happening when your FBI girlfriend showed up.” Chavez shut the door and rolled down the window as the SUV fired its engine. “I’d keep an eye on her if I were you.”
The SUVs peeled out of the building, narrowly missing Piper who stood confused at the door. Rubio and his men took off running, as Slater stood with his hands held high. A few warning shots were fired, but the DEA didn’t want these guys dead.
I heard the two vehicles outside roar to life and squeal out of the parking lot. That left just Slater, me, and Piper in the warehouse waiting on the DEA to get to us. I dropped my weapon on the floor and raised my hands above my head. Piper still stood, gun in hand, looking back and forth at the mess. Thank God, Oscar and Cruz had stayed out of sight.
Butler moved into view, his gun held in front of his face. “Montgomery, is that you?”
“It is.”
Butler lowered his weapon. “Stand down.” He spoke the words into his comm device and sauntered over to me. “What the hell happened here?”
“You guys weren’t supposed to show up until after the drop. You tell me what the hell happened.”
“We were in place waiting, when we received word from HQ to go in now.”
“Who was it from HQ?”
“Reynolds.” Ryan Reynolds was the normal dispatcher, which meant the order could have come from anyone.
“Did he say who made the change?”
“Didn’t have time. It was urgent, so I didn’t ask many questions.”
“Dammit!”
“Was that Chavez you were protecting?”
“Yeah.”
“Want to tell me what’s going on here?”
“Wrong place, wrong time.”
Butler huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, right. Okay, suit yourself. Slater with you?”
“Yep.”
“And the chick?”
“Definitely.”
Butler gave me a knowing grin.
“Got it. Get out of here before my guys start asking questions I can’t answer, like why I’m under strict orders not to take you in even though you just brokered a deal between a known drug lord and some other guy looking to score a nice loot.”
“Yes, sir!”
I raced off, finding Slater standing next to Piper at the front door.
“Let’s go.” I grabbed Piper’s elbow and marched us out the doors to the waiting SUV.
“What did Chavez say?” Slater asked as he got in the driver’s seat. I opened the back door and pushed Piper as gently as I could into the back seat. Yeah, I was angry, and yeah, I was being a prick. But the woman could have gotten herself killed and just put herself in the crosshairs of a sick and twisted man. I wanted to wring her neck.
“He thinks we double-crossed him. Warned me that his men wouldn’t do that and that I’d be learning my lesson.” I glanced at the back seat where Piper sat fuming. “He also said it seems like all this crap hit the fan when my FBI girlfriend showed up.”
Her head jerked up at those words, and for a moment, I saw fear cross her expression. Then she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin in defiance. She opened her mouth to say something, and I shook my head. “Don’t. If you know what’s good for you right now, you’ll just be quiet for a few minutes.”
“Cade, you can’t—”
I held up my hand. “Yes, I can. And I mean it, Piper. Not a word right now. You could have gotten yourself killed and us too.”
That seemed to do the trick, and she lowered her head to her chest.
Levi raised his eyebrows, but I just shook my head at him. I’d felt as if my whole world had been upended when Piper walked into that room, gun at the ready, and put herself in the line of fire. What if the DEA had shot her? Or Chavez? Or even Rubio?
They all knew her now, and they knew whom she’d worked for in the past. She’d made herself a target, and I wanted to strangle her and kiss her senseless all at the same time.
“Ryder, is the drone on Chavez?” I spoke the words quietly into my comm device.
“Yes. I’m still in pursuit.”
“Roger that. At least one thing has gone according to plan tonight.”
Ryder’s chuckle rang over the airwaves. “Oh, and Ryder?”
“Yeah, man.”
“Meet me in the ring tomorrow at nine a.m.”
“Okay…”
I could hear the uncertainty in his voice. I’d never called Ryder out for a match. He was slightly smaller than I was and definitely not nearly as experienced. We’d sparred a little in the past but nothing like I had in store for him the next day.
“It appears you need a lesson in how to keep your team members under your command.”
Piper’s head shot up, her eyes blazing with anger. I shrugged. “Be grateful your ribs are sore. I’ll have to teach you a lesson some other way.”